Became a Strategist with a 100 Intelligence and 100\% Accuracy-Chapter 151: An Unexpected Reunion (3)

Lyn found herself staring at the female knight with crimson hair and violet eyes over and over again.

That face.

A face she could never forget.

The face of the one who had once promised to dedicate everything to her, no matter what...

"......."

And yet, at this moment, that very person was looking at her with an unbearably cold gaze.

Airen, with a chilling expression and lifeless, unfocused eyes, ignored Lyn's trembling stare and lightly turned to the soldier beside her.

"Inform my lord. The envoy has arrived."

"Yes, ma’am."

Once the soldiers had finished searching the delegation and withdrawn, Airen let ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) her eyes sweep over the group, still frozen in shock as they looked at her. Then, in a voice devoid of warmth, she spoke.

"Follow me."

Her voice was dry. So utterly lifeless.

There were many kinds of emotions—joy, sorrow, anger...

For emotion to be reflected in one's voice meant that the other person still held some emotional significance. That, at the very least, their presence stirred something within.

But now.

Airen’s voice held not a single trace of emotion toward Lyn.

"Wait...!"

Lyn tried to say something—

But before she could, Airen cut her off and turned to look at the rest of the delegation with an impassive expression.

"The rest of you will wait here."

"We’re not allowed in?"

Parfalle’s voice held a hint of disbelief, and Airen nodded.

"It is only natural that an envoy meets a foreign ruler alone, is it not?"

Her voice, as she said this, was impossibly cold.

Parfalle, who had once been addressed as ‘Strategist’ by this very woman, who had once felt a sense of sympathy for her, found herself unable to respond.

Airen's words were logical.

It was standard practice for an envoy to enter the audience chamber alone.

However, considering that they had come as a ruler-to-ruler delegation, and with the expectation of forming an alliance, they had assumed they would receive some level of hospitality...

'She knows too well that we’re the ones in the weaker position.'

Parfalle glanced at the expressions of the soldiers accompanying them.

Their suppressed anger was plain to see.

'I don’t care about humiliation. This kind of disgrace—I can endure it. But... my lord, and the rest of our forces...!'

She knew she had to say something—

Just as she opened her mouth.

"Howev—"

"...Parfalle."

Shockingly, the one to stop her was none other than Lyn, her face pale, her hand barely reaching out.

"I... I’ll handle it myself. So... just wait here... I... I am... the ruler, after all...."

"My lord..."

Since Parfalle had been reinstated, this was something Lyn often repeated.

That she had to handle things herself.

That the downfall of Brans Army was due to her own misjudgment, and so she had to bear the weight of it.

That was her last shred of pride as a ruler.

Parfalle understood this better than anyone.

So, she could only bow her head deeply.

"...Please return safely."

"Yeah..."

With that, Lyn turned carefully toward Airen.

Toward the woman who had once vowed to devote everything to her.

Barely managing to part her trembling lips, she spoke.

"...Take me there, Ai... ren...."

Airen, hearing her name spoken by Lyn, responded in the same flat tone as before.

"Lady Lyn. I acknowledge that you are the ruler of a nation, but speaking so informally to the general of another country is discourteous. I advise you to be mindful of that."

"Ah... I understand..."

Nod. Nod.

She couldn’t even muster a proper reply, only nodding weakly.

Airen did not bother to press the issue further.

"Hey... Airen... you see...."

"Follow me."

Airen cut her off before she could say anything else and turned away, walking ahead.

Lyn hesitated, instinctively reaching out a hand toward her—then quickly withdrew it and silently followed behind.

In the past, Lyn’s hesitation might have mattered to Airen.

But now, she knew for certain.

Before seeing her in person, Lyn had been conflicted.

But now that they stood face to face, the reality was undeniable.

This woman was nothing to her now.

Any lingering emotions had truly disappeared.

Neither resentment nor hatred, nor even the pity one might feel for a fallen ruler.

No lingering attachment.

Even if someone else had stood in Lyn’s place at this moment, it would have made no difference to Airen.

Because now, by her side—

Was him.

Swen.

The man who had told her, in absolute sincerity, that he only wanted her to survive.

The man who supported her through every situation, who held her up without fail.

And for someone like her, who had been born as a sword meant to protect another—

Having someone to protect gave her an unshakable strength.

"......."

Lyn, on the other hand, was drowning in emotions so tangled and dark she couldn’t even decipher them.

Regret.

Guilt.

Resentment.

She couldn't breathe whenever she looked at Airen’s back.

Once—

Once, this was the woman who had vowed to be the foundation beneath her feet, the stepping stone she could trample upon.

The one who had pledged absolute loyalty, no matter what command she gave.

'Airen... why...?'

Why was she not with Aishus Army?

Why had she chosen to serve under Serpina von Eingart, that ruthless tyrant?

"Lyn. Only you can stop Serpina von Eingart’s reign of terror. I, Airen, will follow you to the ends of the earth, even if my body turns to dust. Use me as you see fit. If you order me to strike, I will cut down anyone, without hesitation."

'That’s what you said... so why...?'

Even though she was the one who had cast Airen aside.

Even though she had ignored Swen’s advice and foolishly sent her into certain death.

Even now, like a fool, she found herself resenting Airen.

She had sworn she would never make the same mistake again—

Yet the moment she saw Airen’s face, her heart twisted in turmoil once more.

'You... you’re not supposed to do this...! So why did you... abandon me...?'

Lyn wanted to ask.

She wanted to demand an answer.

But she already knew.

That there was no answer to be found.

'No....'

She lowered her head.

Barely held back the tears threatening to spill.

'I... I was the one who shouldn't have done that....'

As she followed behind Airen,

She couldn't shake the feeling that she was nothing more than a condemned sinner.

The Brans Army—once rulers of the central continent—had been reduced to this state.

And at the root of it all—

Was her own decision.

The woman in front of her—Airen—

She had tried to kill her without cause.

She wanted to apologize.

But she had neither the time nor the place.

Nor any right to ask for forgiveness.

All she could do was bite her lip and struggle to keep pace with Airen’s steps.

A regret far too late to undo.

***

As Lyn followed Airen into the royal castle, a deeper, more fundamental sense of unease pressed down on her chest.

She emptied her mind again and again, desperately trying to rid herself of that gnawing anxiety.

How long had she walked, head bowed like a condemned prisoner, following behind the woman who had once been her sword?

By the time she gathered her thoughts, a familiar voice rang out.

"My lord, I have brought Lady Lyn Brans. We have just arrived."

Kneeling on the floor, Airen bowed before the golden-haired sovereign who stood above her, stepping onto the insignia emblazoned on Airen's own armor.

Her new master.

The Conqueror of the Northern Continent.

The Tyrant—Serpina von Eingart.

Serpina gazed down at her with a bewitching smile.

"Ah, Airen. Well done. You've worked hard."

"It was merely my duty, my lord."

Serpina rose from her seat and strode toward Lyn.

"Lady Lyn, I am Serpina von Eingart. It is a pleasure to meet you."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Suppressing any lingering sentiments about Airen, Lyn forced herself to focus and respond.

"...Lyn Brans."

"So, I hear you wish to form an alliance with us?"

"That is correct."

Serpina tilted her head slightly, amusement flickering in her eyes.

"I see. I must admit, I never expected to be forming an alliance with Brans Army—especially after the battles we've fought against each other. But then again, in times of chaos, there is no such thing as an eternal ally or enemy. I understand your decision. A very rational choice."

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

Lyn didn't reply. She merely forced an awkward smile.

Serpina, however, paid her no mind. She was already moving forward with the next step of her plan—one that would ensure Lyn was trampled underfoot.

"It is, of course, a delight to have Brans Army by our side. However, the reason I have specially invited you to Eingart Castle is simple."

She took a step closer.

The sharp citrus scent of Serpina’s perfume overwhelmed the fragrance of Lyn’s own.

"We must ensure that as many people as possible recognize our alliance in pursuit of peace across the continent. Don’t you agree? Hehe... Guards, prepare a brief reception before the banquet."

"Yes, my lady!"

'...Transparent as ever, Serpina.'

Lyn had known the moment she was summoned here.

Serpina intended to use her own infamy to further isolate Brans Army diplomatically.

But what choice did Lyn have?

Her territory was slipping through her fingers. If things continued as they were, the very existence of her nation would be at risk.

For better or worse, Serpina's bluntness helped calm her nerves after the shock of seeing Airen again.

She put on the most composed smile she could muster.

"...I hope the friendship between our armies lasts for eternity."

"As do I. Now, this way."

Lyn followed her silently, forcing herself to ignore the crimson-haired knight who trailed close behind Serpina like a loyal shadow.

*

Inside the banquet hall, exchanging meaningless pleasantries helped settle her nerves.

'Just form the alliance and leave. That’s all I need to do.'

She had wanted to speak with Airen, but now, it felt impossible.

It was better to disappear from her sight as soon as possible.

Subtly, she asked Serpina about the upcoming arrangements.

Serpina chuckled in amusement.

"The alliance? That’s just a matter of signing the documents. My, my... you seem rather impatient, don’t you? Fufu..."

Lyn didn't bother responding.

She simply let out a small laugh.

No matter what happened, she wouldn't let herself be swayed.

Serpina smirked at her, then turned to Airen with a sidelong glance.

"Bring the documents."

"Yes, my lord."

Airen responded without hesitation and disappeared from the room.

The moment she left, Lyn felt her heart—pounding relentlessly in her chest—gradually slow.

'Stay calm... Just sign the alliance and leave. If we can secure the northern front... we can hold off the Hesna Army. That’s where it starts. If I achieve results here, the generals, my brother, and even the soldiers abandoned at the border—everyone’s grievances will be appeased. Parfalle said so... It has to be true.'

Why Airen was part of Serpina’s army didn’t matter.

At this point, she just wanted to apologize...

And forget.

Yes.

You're doing well, Lyn.

You can't afford to crumble—not when your father chose you to lead.

Everything is for Brans Army.

She raised the glass Serpina had handed her and took a slow sip, steeling her resolve.

'This humiliation... I will repay it once I conquer this continent, Serpina.'

She swallowed down her resentment with the liquor, forcing a smile.

And then—

'...?'

Serpina’s expression was... strange.

No, she was smiling.

But there was something else.

Expectation.

As if she were waiting for something.

As if there was still another act to this performance.

And then—

"My lord."

A voice echoed from beyond.

A man’s voice.

A voice she knew all too well.

And the moment she realized it—

That "fundamental unease" that had followed her ever since she stepped foot in this place—

'...No. It can’t be...!!!'

It finally bared its fangs.

The truth she had avoided confronting.

The truth she had refused to even consider.

Because if Airen was here...

Then where was Swen?

And the answer came—

In the most merciless way possible.

"I have brought the documents, my lord."

Slowly, Lyn turned her head.

And there—

A white-haired man stood.

The man who had always spoken the truth.

The man who had once told her to use him as much as she pleased.

And as if to drive a dagger into her heart—

Serpina's voice rang out in the most sickeningly sweet tone.

"You’ve arrived, my dear Swen... Fufu...♡"